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Why Install Silt Fencing

In construction projects developers often call the beginning stages of site preparation “moving dirt.” This refers to the fact that in order to build a large building, complex, or subdivision of homes, trees often need to be cleared and lots need to be reshapenned so that actual construction can begin.

The phrase “moving dirt” begs the question though, “Where does this dirt get moved to?”

This is a vitally important question because the long term ecological health of a construction project site and its larger environment depends on this answer.

Silt fences help developers retain dirt run-off caused by erosion so that they can say with a greater degree of confidence that the dirt they moved in the construction project stayed within the construction site and did not get transported by erosion outside of the site.

How Burns Environmental Installs Silt Fencing

In order for a silt fence to properly work as an erosion control method, it must be installed correctly.

First, we lay the fence line to determine how many stakes and feet of fencing we will need to build the silt fence. Next, we build trenches for the silt fence; this step is crucial to the fence functioning properly because if the fence is not placed below the surface, silt will pass under the fencing.

After digging the trench, we drive the fence stakes into the ground and attach the silt fencing to the stakes.

Finally, we backfill in front of the fence with the soil that we excavated in order to build the fence and compact this soil.

How Silt Fencing Prevents Erosion

When soil is disturbed and left exposed as is the case in many construction projects, it is vulnerable to erosion by strong winds, rain droplets, and flood waters.

Silt fencing prevents erosion by capturing the soil particles that are being carried by rain and flood waters while allowing the water to pass through.

Over time these measures can save developers from paying high prices to bring in earth from another location or repairing buildings harmed by the effects of erosion.

Silt fencing also protects local and regional water systems from excessive sediment build up and the negative ecological effects that come with it.

Burns Environmental Alabama Silt Fence Installation

At Burns Environmental we care deeply about protecting our beautiful Alabama lands from unnecessary erosion. Silt fencing is one of the best ways to prevent erosion at a construction site. Our team of experienced professionals is capable of handling your silt fence installation project.

Call Burns Environmental today!

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